Undertaken by RCSI on behalf of St Luke's Hospital the report found that the clinical nurse specialist in cancer care is an active member of the multi-disciplinary teams (MDT) and provides specialist nursing care to patients across a range of diagnostic groups at different stages of their treatment plan.

At the launch of the report Professor Seamus Cowman, Head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, RCSI, said: "Clinical Nurse Specialists are highly trained, knowledgeable and enthusiastic specialist nurses who have a clear goal of providing quality patient care through patient education, advice and support, coordination of care and follow up post discharge."

The study showed that the majority of the clinical nurse specialists time is dedicated to clinical issues and they are regarded by all other members of the team as an expert and autonomous practitioner and a vital source of knowledge and advice to cancer patients.

A strategy for cancer control in Ireland was launched in 2006. A key action of this strategy is to create a single, focused, integrated cancer control programme. Central to this programme is the formation and continued development of multi-disciplinary teams (MDT) which includes clinical nurse specialists.

As the first Irish study to evaluate the role of the clinical nurse specialist from multiple perspectives the findings are of relevance to the development of cancer care teams and the professional development of the clinical nurse specialist.